Page 167 - Bonhams Hong K June 2016
P. 167
written that ‘prosperous clouds float; sweet dew falls’. In the moulded cloud decorations on blue and white bowls and plates.
Treatise on Astronomy in the Book of Han (Han shu: Tianwen zhi), Clouds also appear in imitation of auspicious ruyi sceptres, in
it was recorded that ‘if it is neither smoke nor cloud, like the heavy turn inspired by the healing lingzhi fungus. A doucai bowl from
atmosphere beyond the desolate granary, it is the sign of prosperous the Chenghua period in the National Palace Museum in Taipei
clouds. When the prosperous clouds appear, so does happiness’. exemplifies this type of ruyi-cloud decoration.2 Such decoration
The early Qing poet and playwright Kong Shangren in his play Peach also appears on Kangxi wares; see a similar white glaze waterpot
Blossom Fan (Tao hua shan) also wrote: ‘I saw twelve auspicious in the Shanghai Museum.3 See also another celadon green
omens…the stars shone bright, the celebratory clouds appeared, example currently in the Nanjing Museum.4 These two Kangxi
sweet dew fell, nourishing rain descended, phoenixes gathered, period examples are closely related in form to their Yongzheng
qilins roamed, divine plants grew, the sea had no waves, the yellow counterparts. However, the decorative techniques employed are
river was clear…etc.’ The memorials submitted to the Yongzheng different: one is carved, the other is enamelled.
emperor by court officials often mention such things. The Yongzheng
emperor saw these phenomenon as auspicious omens signifying his The current lot is exquisite and refined, with thick layers of rich
virtue and filial piety. enamels painted elegantly as well as intriguing and auspicious
patterns. Its beautiful form and decoration have successfully merged
For example, on the nineteenth day of the tenth month of the in harmony, exhibiting the high artistry of Yongzheng porcelain.
sixth year of the Yongzheng reign (1728), Governor-General Ortai As Republican connoisseur Xu Zhiheng wrote in Discussions of
and general Zhang Yingzong of Yunnan province reported the Porcelain from the Yinliu Studio (Yinliuzhai shuoci): ‘when talking
phenomenon of five-coloured clouds in the vicinity of Wuhua about doucai glazes, Kangxi and Yongzheng examples are the most
Mountain: ‘All the civil and military officials were present at Wuhua refined. Whether it has a motif of figures, flowers, birds and animals,
mountain for the conclusion of a festive gathering. During the they are all executed crisply and adored by all…Yongzheng pieces
change in guard duties, everyone saw the five-coloured celebratory tend towards simple elegance, whereas Qianlong pieces tend
clouds, bright like daylight…Everyone wished boundless longevity towards elaborate extravagance.’ The red, purple, yellow, blue and
[to the emperor]!’ After reading this, the Yongzheng emperor replied green enamels used to paint the ‘five-coloured auspicious clouds’
favourably: ‘An auspicious sign such as this, truly is an expression of of the Yongzheng period, represent a propitious offering from the
my minister’s loyal devotion and sincerity. By presenting this to me heavens.
on my birthday, you have demonstrated your love.’ 1
If one takes a sweeping view of both private and public collections,
Cloud motifs also appear in court paintings of the early Yongzheng Yongzheng period ‘horse-hoof’ waterpots are extremely rare. They
period. See for example, the painting titled ‘Sunrise above the Sea’ are even rarer as a pair. Both the Palace Museum, Beijing, and the
by the Jesuit court painter Giuseppe Castiglione, as well as another Nanjing Museum have one rare example each.5 A pair formerly in the
album by the court artist Jin Kun titled ‘Birds and Clouds’, possibly C.T. Loo collection, Paul and Helen Bernat collection in Boston and
describing similarly auspicious natural phenomena which occurred Shimentang collection in the United Kingdom, was eventually sold by
in Penglai, Dengzhou, on the seventh year of the Yongzheng reign the well known Chinese art dealer Eskenazi.6 The present lot has a
(1729). good provenance and was previously in the collection of T.T. Tsui.7 To
have a complete pair is extremely rare.
The use of auspicious clouds as a decorative motif on objects is
extremely broad and has an extremely long history. The auspicious 1Lin Lina, ‘Yongzheng chao zhi xiangrui fuying’ in Harmony and Integrity: The
cloud motif originated from the archaic cloud scroll motifs as early Yongzheng Emperor and His Times, Taipei, 2009, pp.374-399.
as the Zhou dynasty in areas belonging to the state of Chu. Later, 2 Catalogue of the Special Exhibition of Cheng-hua Porcelain Ware, Taipei,
the design underwent a period of transformation which eventually 2003, pp.153-155.
inspired many cloud-related decorations on ornaments, clothing, 3 Kangxi Porcelain Ware from the Shanghai Museum Collection, Hong Kong,
and architecture etc. The cloud motif was especially prominent 1998, pl.227.
in religious contexts. Cloud decorations bear many auspicious 4 Treasures in the Royalty: the Official Kiln Porcelain of the Chinese Qing
connotations, representing human aspirations. Dynasty, Shanghai, 2003, pl.107.
5 The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum: Small Refined
During the Ming and Qing dynasties, the cloud motif was often Articles of the Study, Shanghai, 2009, p.223, pl.211; Treasures in the Royalty:
employed on porcelain produced in the Imperial kilns at Jingdezhen. the Official Kiln Porcelain of the Chinese Qing Dynasty, Shanghai, 2003, pl.178.
During the reign of Ming emperor Hongwu, for example, there are 6 Qing Porcelain from a Private Collection, London, 2012, pl.3
7 The Tsui Museum of Art: Ceramic IV, Qing Dynasty, Hong Kong, 1995, no.131
Image courtesy of the Palace Museum, Beijing Image courtesy of Eskenazi Ltd., London
北京故宮博物院藏 圖片由倫敦古董商埃斯肯納茨提供
